Five-Week Post-Helene Retreat Highlights

Present mindfulness, past reflections, future anticipations

Mindfulness

Today, it is five weeks since Hurricane Helene caused widespread damage in our community of Swannanoa. So many are still hurting. I am feeling tired and disconnected. Am missing Swannanoa, neighbors, and family.

Grateful to be on a health and healing retreat with BMT here in Birkdale Village, Huntersville, NC, two hours east of Swannanoa. We are both doing physical therapy, visiting doctors, and enjoying seeing the many happy children in our village.

Many of us are experiencing trauma from the onslaught of antidemocratic rhetoric and misinformation in this election cycle. We voted by mail and are helping get out the vote (GOTV) in this critical election to strengthen our nation’s democracy and to protect the rights of all people and all of nature.

Now, some of us Asheville-area facilitators are talking about conducting a Swannanoa strategic planning consultation with local residents, and representatives of county government, businesses, nonprofits, media, and schools. The participatory plan would generate energy and collaboration for disaster recovery, rebuilding, and future design and implementation of an ecologically safe and socially just future for Swannanoa, as a model for other communities.

Also, BMT and I are exploring with longtime friend Lynda Cock local connections and possibilities at Davidson College, Davidson College Presbyterian Church, a local mindfulness network, and more.

Aware of breathing in, and breathing out. In the here, and in the now. In love, and in gratitude.

Each morning, I am reciting the Five Remembrances, and doing Qi Gong while taking refuge and chanting. Gratitude for this life.

Reflections

Many of us still remember our trauma in 2016 - 2020 caused by the US president and his team, a miss-managed pandemic, and an attempted insurrection.

Recalling in gratitude that a few years ago, some of us locals formed the Swannanoa Watershed Action Network (SWAN) to promote ecological regeneration and social justice.

Remembering a couple of years ago that Bonnie’s brother and my brother died. We think of them daily in grief and in gratitude for their continuation through their deeds and words.

Each day, we think about our family members and neighbors in the Asheville area, and family members in Florida and New York. Missing the familiarity of our home and neighborhood.

Also, recalling in gratitude that a couple of years ago I began writing “Compassionate Conversations.” I so enjoy writing for subscribers and many others.

We were delighted to hear Lynda Cock speak at her church in Davidson and share a meal with her and husband John.

Anticipations

We do not know our individual, family, community, national, or global futures. We do know that we are growing older and hope to be of service to others as long as we can.

Next week, we are looking forward to having dinner with new friends from Davidson and from Kenya to discuss how to promote mindfulness practices.

BMT and I are longing to return to Swannanoa when clean water and other services are available. It appears that we may receive some support from our insurance company and from FEMA. We are imagining being back with our neighbors and family members.

We are envisioning a Blue Wave on 5 November! Please vote and GOTV. Please be safe and protect our electoral democracy.

We continue in hope and trust that we can help catalyze a socially just, ecologically sound, and peaceful community, country, and planetary civilization.

May all beings everywhere, including you and me, realize peace, happiness, understanding, and compassionate action.

May it be so.